Saturday, 20 June 2009

Noise pollution impact fears for Vic Falls elephants

They say senior government ministers are backing plans for a four-fold increase in tourist flights.

It is part of attempts to take advantage of an expected tourist boom when neighbouring South Africa hosts next year's football World Cup.

Work has already begun on new helipads but without official permission.

Zimbabwean Environment Minister Francis Nehema says no environmental impact assessment has been made - and without it the scheme cannot go ahead.

"It doesn't matter who you are. We want it done. It is a prerequisite," he said.

Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe says at present just five helicopters fly over the falls at any one time.

That figure is set to grow to around 20, as tourists scramble to secure stunning aerial views of one of the world's most spectacular sights, he says.

But environmentalists fear excessive noise pollution will have an adverse effect on the behaviour patterns of the elephants.

And Deliwe Utete from non-governmental organisation Environment Africa says if the elephants flee it could have worrying repercussions for the resort's entire ecosystem, affecting thousands of wild animals and birds.

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Welcome to Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs, a blog about - wait for it - Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs! Covering both Zambia and Zimbabwe, this blog focuses on issues relating to the Victoria Falls, and more generally on the Zambezi (including Botswana and Namibia) and wider conservation issues relating to all the above.

Mostly I re-post information from other sources, so this blog acts as an information gateway (with links back to source sites) and point of reference, following various topics and themes. Occasionally you'll find personal pieces or comment, but generally speaking I use the blog to record and file information which I find interesting, and which I hope others may find interesting also.